Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Whittier College men's basketball team dropped their third straight game Wednesday evening as they came from behind only to fall 81-76 to the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer dropping to 10-9, 4-6 SCIAC.

Whittier was held four points under their scoring average with four players recording double figures led by Nick Demusis (Mililani, HI) and Eric Jennings (Fontana, Calif.) who each totaled 18 points.

After trailing 40-33 at the break Whittier came out firing on all cylinders in the second pulling even at 48-48 at the 13:08 mark after a three pointer from Chris Barnes-Williams (Salt Lake City, UT).  But after two three pointers from Adrian Brandon the Sagehens once again went out in front 54-50. 

The lead was extended to seven following a three pointer from John Weiss and then nine after a layin by Brandon. But Whittier again fought back as Jacob Porter (Temecula, Calif.) hit a 30 footer with 6:47 to play that pulled the Purple & Gold within four 60-56. 

With 2:59 left, Pomona-Pitzer was holding onto an eight point advantage 68-60 following a Barnes-Williams bank shot in the paint and after three consecutive free throws from Barnes-Williams to close the gap to 72-67, the Sagehens cracked down on the defensive end, while extending their lead to double digits.

With 27 seconds to play with a loss looming in the distance, Whittier put together one final push connecting on three consecutive three pointers on their final three possessions from Demusis (2) and Jennings but it was too late as they fell by five. 

Barnes-Williams finished the night with 13 points with nine boards, while Tyree Landrum (Los Angeles, Calif.) totaled 11 points and 11 boards for yet another double double this season.

For the Sagehens, Kyle McAndrews finished with a game high 22 points on 5-18 shooting going 11-12 from the charity stripe, while Nick Nordale and Brandon had 14 points apiece.     

Whittier looks to snap their losing skid this Saturday, February 8 when they host Chapman University beginning at 5:00pm.